Placebos have been on my mind lately. My family has been passing around a tough cold these past few weeks and going through a fair amount of DayQuil for symptom relief. You may guess where I’m going with this — did you catch the recent news from the FDA announcing that its decongestant ingredient (found in many common cold medications) does not work?

Taking a break from all of the energetic "noise" of the human world — including what we experience just from being inside or in any human-designed and dominated environment — to engage with trees, water, birds, bugs, rocks, dirt, and plants gives our system profound relief.

In my work I think a lot about "thawing." Softening, warming up, melting parts of the energy field that feel cold or stuck. Recently I had my own experience with this process. I had been waking up and noticing a hard, uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. Sometimes it felt hollow, sometimes like a tangled knot, and sometimes like a solid object lodged in my gut. When I first noticed it I thought maybe it was some kind of indigestion. But when I brought my awareness into that spot, I suddenly burst into tears.

I have a feeling that right now you're holding some stress and tension in your body. Tight shoulders? Clenched jaw? Furrowed brow? These postures and positions create a vicious circle -- they tell your nervous system that there's something to be stressed out about, perpetuating a state of "high alert." Do you have 30 seconds to spare? Let's take advantage and change the message.

There has been a lot written lately examining the new phenomenon dubbed "zoom fatigue" -- why interacting over screens is so mentally taxing and can leave us feeling empty and sad instead of connected.

In addition to the social, psychological, and neurological challenges of virtual group interactions, I've been noticing how they scramble and frazzle the flow of energy through our fields, to use somewhat unscientific terms.

In volatile times like these, keeping our energy flowing and aligned is essential for staving off seasonal illnesses, keeping our moods in balance, and supporting our overall resilience. I've found myself doing the following exercises a lot lately when I'm feeling out of whack and when I notice my shoulders are up by my ears from cold or stress. They are especially helpful at the first signs of a cold or other illness to stimulate and support your immune system as well as when you're feeling a bit stagnant and congested.

One thing I have noticed in my work is that people often know exactly what is causing their pain, illness, or distress. It might be unhealthy habits, a trauma that hasn't fully healed, or a difficult situation they feel unable or unwilling to change

It's the middle of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, where everything looks and feels drab, gray, and stagnant. Fortunately we can bring light and flow to our inner ecosystems with the most natural practice of all, laughing. According to the very serious Mayo Clinic, laughing improves our immune response, increases endorphins, releases stress, and has many other physical and emotional benefits.